A Question
Acts 12 tells of The Apostle Peter’s imprisonment, the church’s fervent prayer for him, God’s angel freeing him from the prison, Peter knocking on the door of the church, the church unable to believe that their prayers might actually be answered (finding it easier to believe that Peter’s angel had been seen rather than Peter himself!) and then finally rejoicing in his deliverance.
God orchestrated this amazing story that we celebrate as miraculous still today. But don’t forget this miraculous story includes the guards who were executed by Herod the following morning for falling asleep at their posts. I’m sure their families had difficulty seeing this situation as miraculous and worthy of celebration. They may have had a hard time seeing God as good when their son or husband or father, proud of his ability to provide for his family as a prison guard, was executed. Executed for something God apparently caused:
Falling asleep on the job.
Do you believe God is good? Do you believe His plan is perfect? What if you were a follower of The Way praying for Peter’s release…and your brother or husband happened to be one of the guards? How would you react? Would your faith remain?
An Answer
We see only a single fragment of a single piece of a 1000 piece puzzle. God forbid we criticize the one who not only sees the whole but created it. We read only a single line of a 500paged script, God forbid we raise a finger against the one who wrote the story line, Romans 11:33.
As for whether my faith would remain, Spurgeon (known as the prince of preachers) was once asked whether the Christians of his day would stand amidst the persecution of the 1st century Christians. In his response he said God gives His people the necessary grace to cope with the challenges of their time. If one of the guards was my loved one, God would give me grace to cope and trust Him. He cannot allow me to face a temptation or trial too great for me to overcome. Moreover, He will prepare for me a way out (1 Cor 10:13).
What do you think?
08 July 2010
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3 comments:
I have been following my friend's recent post (suffer the little children) at http://most-tranquil.blogspot.com/ written to stimulate discussion on God and suffering. Lydz, a christina reformed baptist, lives where the earthquake recently hit in Christchurch NZ and we have started discussing this topic of God and suffereing particularly as it is relevent to her and other christian's present witness to others. Please pray for the believers and others at this time. She and her brother are also ardent pro-life campaigners. (Andy her brother has more details on the earthquake http://www.starstuddedsuperstep.com/ )Thought you might be interested in following this blog/post and was wondering if maybe you might have some comments/input to? Thanks, God bless.
Hi Jessica,
I'll take a look and tryn' comment, thanks!
Mwindula, I'm not sure if my mind grasps exactly what you are trying to say on Lydie's (Most Tranquil's) blog. Are you saying that God is most glorified when we praise Him through suffering (instead of playing the blame game and blaming Him for only the bad things and not acknowledging the good things that he gives people)? Or are you trying to explain a slightly different concept that I haven't understood yet. And when you say "...when we go through trials, do we search for that link or..." what are you meaning. Just curious as wasn't quite sure what exactly you meant... thinking, Jessica
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Just for easy reference I've submitted your post as well. I don't really mind if you don't publish this was just curious about what you were saying...
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Mwindula Mbewe said...
Hi, Jessica recommended this post/blog to me, and am glad she did, its great Lydie.
Its clear from scripture that God is self centered and jealous, and rightly so. He deserves all the praise and glory! And asuch everything He does is so that we and all creation can make much of Him and less of everything else. Theres a link between God's glory and suffering question is, when we go through trials, do we search for that link or we just either say God is in control or blame Him and move on?
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